Tummy Time, Planking, or Just Getting Out of a Chair

From tummy time our first year of life to planking in the middle years to just being able to get out of a chair on our own in our golden years, we are always working on building and maintaining our core strength. The more we spend time doing these workouts the easier it is. It is when we avoid the discomfort of each exercise that it gets harder and we get weaker. The gift of dedication is a stronger core and eventually more independence overall. The effect of not being dedicated is weakness and eventually total assistance in our later years of life. Possibly being confined to a wheelchair.

This week Mom and I took Jenn to see the results of her grandson’s FIT evaluation. Even at a few months old baby Charlie has to be moved out of his comfort zone so he can benefit from the strength that comes from building up his tummy muscles. He is fabulous acccording to Las Cumbres and all of us who adore him. It was Mom’s turn to keep her core strong at the end of sitting on a too low couch for an hour and a half. She needed assistance from a cane and her ‘favorite’ daughter but she was able to stand and get out of that comfy couch. Charlie and Mom are being the best they can be one tummy time and one stand up at a time.

It occurs to me that I need a Mommy or Daddy or daughter to keep me working on not only my core strength but all the areas in life that benefit from doing what I don’t want to do but need to do to be the best me. Each of us need those people in our lives who encourage and push us to get out of our comfort zone to be better than if we say no instead of yes to life. It really does come down to the old rubber band analogy. A rubber band is only useful if it is being stretched. Sitting in the comfy drawer it really has no purpose. Stretched around a stack of anything, preferably a roll of $100. Bills it keeps things in place. Keeps whatever it is stretched around together.

This is the time of year we all resolve to do tummy time or planking or just plain stretching more often. We have our lists that are hopefully posted on our bathroom mirror to remind us to spend the extra effort to keep us being the best we can be. Of course, these lists and discomforts are not only to stretch us physically but emotionally, intellectually, and socially as well. Today is day four of me getting back to rising early and blogging each morning with my cup of coffee. I celebrate day four but the true win will be if I am still sitting here typing in May or September. I know I need my tribe of family and friends to encourage me to keep the motivation. Hopefully along the way I will be the inspiration to those of you who need a cheerleader in your corner. It takes a community from birth.

In Him,
Joyful
1-10-19